Frequently Asked Questions
Consultants and Integrators
SCE Projects; Cost, Schedules, ROI
SCE Projects Success Factors
E-business and E-commerce
Consultants and Integrators
Why should I consider hiring a consultant to help with my project?
Surveys of companies
reporting recent WMS implementations show that project success rates
double when outside consultants are used. Additionally, the use of
consultants reduced system modifications by a third and shortened the
design and implementation schedule by 3-4 months.
What are the advantages of hiring a consultant who also has system integration expertise?
A consultant who can
provide systems integration expertise adds additional value during
implementation and design. This is because a consultant with integration
skills has more insight and can perform more tasks throughout the
project without having to hand-off work to specialists. This approach
typically delivers faster implementations with better quality using
fewer total resources.
What makes Centek Associates unique?
Two Things: First, we are process oriented and understand the detailed business processes that benefit from the use of supply chain software. Our staff has real "shop floor" experience. Second, our staff has hands-on implementation
and system integration experience. We understand the details of what it
takes to make these projects work. This means our designs are innovative
yet attainable and our implementations are successfully completed using
up to 40% fewer resources.
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SCE Projects; Cost, Schedules, ROI
How long do projects take from initial design through go-live?
Following our rapid implementation methodology, systems can be designed and installed in as little as three to four months. Large complex projects consisting of multiple sites may require nine to twelve months to complete.
How much do WMS projects costs?
Total project costs can be broken in three categories; Software, Hardware, and Services. Software license fees can range from $80-150K for the first 20-25 users. Additional users can cost $1500-2500 each (some vendors license by site). Add to this number all secondary software like database licenses, interfaces, mods, etc. and you have your total Software number.
Assuming RF devices are being used, total hardware
costs will be close to total Software costs. Services required will
depend on the skills and availability of your internal staff. Services
costs can run from 50% to 150% of Software costs.
What kind of return on
investment can I expect?
If you are running a
largely manual or paper-based operation today, you can expect an annual
rate of return of 40-80%. This return includes only the hard tangible
savings like direct labor, facilities, etc. In addition to these
tangible savings, each project has a long list of other justification
criteria that often doubles or triples the total benefit of the project.
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SCE
Projects Success Factors
What needs to be done before I select a software vendor?
Would you buy a new car without researching what your want or need? Well, you need to do the same with SCE software. It is crucial to develop a detailed functional design that defines "how" your operation will run using available software/hardware technology. Next, you must extract your functional, technical, and vendor requirements from your functional design and document them in a format that can be used to evaluate potential software vendors.
Last, you need to validate your requirements against the software that you have selected by spending time on the software performing a gap analysis. It is important to note that if you select a vendor without completing these steps, you will still have to complete the same steps after the software is purchased. Why not do it up front and minimize risk by leaving your software vendor options open?
What are the leading causes of failed SCE software projects?
Most companies mistakenly focus on the technical aspects of software implementation projects. One of the leading causes of software project mishaps is failure to properly design and document "how" the business would operate using new software. This mistake leads to unrealistic budget, schedule and benefit expectations and often results in selecting the wrong software vendor. Another common thread among struggling projects is the failure to plan and manage the change process. System training would be included in this category.
Last, most companies underestimate the effort and subsequent resources required to complete a large software project. The project requires full time dedicated team members and a strong leader who is not overtly hampered by internal company politics. The team must also possess specific skills and experience that may not be available in-house.
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E-business and E-commerce
What is the difference between e-business and e-commerce?
In general, e-business refers to electronic business transactions that occur between two businesses or trading partners "B2B" while e-commerce refers to those transactions that occur between the end consumer and the supplier "B2C".
Are the software requirements for
e-business and e-commerce different?
Yes. From transaction volumes and order
profiles to user interfaces and supply chain visibility tools,
e-business and e-commerce have different operating parameters and unique
software requirements.
Does e-business mean you have to be a ".com" company?
No. Regardless of specific industry, most businesses can benefit from e-business or e-commerce technologies like web-based inventory visibility with trading partners or real time inventory and order status.
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